ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 4/20/2014 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

My analysis: I had many concerns heading into this series. The biggest was Terrence Jones ability to cover Aldridge. I knew LMA would abuse T-Jones. I think they need to give D-Mo a shot. If that doesn't work, do a Harden at PG, Parsons at SG, and Garcia at SF, with Howard and Asik controlling the paint. Secondly, Parsons needs to hit his open shots. That flat jumper will haunt us. Put some arch into it and it might go in more often. He's a 37% 3PT shooter... dude could get it higher if he put more arch in that shot. Lastly, why not give Troy Daniels a try? Now THAT is a guy who will hit open threes!

 

I think not having Lopez in the end actually hurt the Rockets somewhat because now they have to force one of their big men on Adridge. That's why they did the pick and roll to free up Adridge for the 3 because they know Howard is not going to come out to guard him. I just think the Portland coach is way too smart when it come to strategy and our coach is just stupid and dumb.

 

I'm sure it has already been said, but I'm not too down after this loss.

It took what will probably be the worst game of the series by Harden plus what will most likely be the best games of the series by LMA and Lillard to beat us by 2 in OT.

As was mentioned in the podcast we had double digit leads in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th plus a quick 6 point lead to start OT. As bad as things went we were in control at so many points of the game.

I just don't see the stars aligning like that for Portland 3 more times. It's not going to be easy, but I think we got this in 7.

 

The guys better win this for McHale, or he won't be back next year.

 

The Rockets did this the whole year. Part of it is constant turnovers and shooting a ton of 3s. That's just who the Rockets are this year. It's easy to build a quick lead that way, but if you go dry for a spell shooting a tons of 3s and turning the ball over, it's pretty easy for a decent team to mount a good run. The Rockets, IMO, just don't play intelligent basketball once they have solid leads.

I have also been saying this all year long...James Harden's defense is a joke. It really is. It isn't even average, it's a liability. I'm surprised more teams don't go right at him like Portland did. At least we have legitimate reasons for letting LA go off, but there is no excuse for Harden's incompetence and complete lack of effort playing D against Wes Matthews. Everything he does is fundamentally wrong. He constantly gambles going for steals, he doesn't move his feet, and he routinely loses track of his man off of screens. It's really quite painful to watch.

 

Does anyone have the intro video from last night?

 

I still can't believe we lost... That game was ours to lose

 

I was at the game and I just feel like it's done sorry. They came into TC game 1 a rocking crowd against the harden howard duo who you know wanted to make a statement and just punched us in the face. Portland drew first blood from us and I'm telling you all game 2 will not have the same energy as game even if it is a must win. That's why game 1 is so important it's a reason why teams who win game 1 win the series 80 something percent of the time. It was a real heart breaker and I don't think the fans or the team can muster anything else to win this series.

 

I am as depressed as anybody over last night's choke, but surely you realize how ridiculous you sound saying "it's done" after 1 game, right? I mean...you can't possibly be that ridiculous, no?

 

Not at all just really really heart breaking. Me and wife's first playoff game ever and everything was perfect except the outcome. Even if we win the series we lost when me and my wife were at the game. I just really wanted a victory for me and her.

 

Still in shock. We had no business losing that game.

Watching this game you got the feeling that whoever won this game would eventually go on to win the series. Rockets need to win at least 2 out of the next 3 games to take this series.

 

Very true. And Portland made some really lucky shots to keep them in the game

 

Did you watch the game at all? We had no business being ahead most of that game. We should have been down 20 early on.

 

People keep saying Harden won't be that inefficient for the whole series, but he also hasn't been forced to defend like that before. I think we only have a sample size of ONE (this game) when the opposing offense targets Harden on the defensive end. Maybe being forced to "defend" causes that horrible offensive performance (tired, lazy settling 3s, bad accuracy, etc.) Sample size of one though, so who knows? We'll just have to wait and see...

 

Oh, he was forced to defend last night? I must have missed it.

 

Huh? I watched the entire game dude. Portland played like crap most of the 2nd half and Dwight was playing well. Even James hit a few shots. Up 11 with 4 min to go, there's no way in hell we should have lost.

If McHale keeps Dwight in during hack-a-Howard we win. Plain and simple.

 

I just don't think that was it. They really only went at him hard early in the game. For whatever reason they stopped giving it to Matthews in the post as the game went on. After that first quarter it didn't really seem to me like they were "forcing" him to defend any more than what's normal for him.

Plain and simple Harden started 0-5 from 3 and from what I can remember most if not all of those 5 were pretty good looks. I think nerves got to him early and he just never fully settled in. It sucks that it was the first game of the playoffs and things are going to be magnified because of it, but I really just think it was an off night for him. Don't expect to see anything like that again this series from Harden.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As he did last night, Harden again accepted responsibility for game 1 result. Emphasized need to be more aggressive attacking basket</p>&mdash; Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/statuses/458335140544921600">April 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

I sincerely hope we make some adjustments for game 2. I'm glad it's not til Wednesday to give Bev's knee a couple of days rest.

Got to admit that Stotts has a good game plan against us and it worked pretty well last night, though he freely admitted they got lucky on couple of occasions.

What killed us was the poor offensive choices at the end of the fourth quarter, the late defensive rotations, Jones leaving his feet too soon and some missed baskets. This game really could have gone our way if one or two more things had happened in our favor.

 

That would suck.